Blog

Are you having a hard time getting out of bed in the morning? Constantly frustrated with the people you work with? Find yourself short-tempered at work? Not performing the type of work you really want to be doing?

These may be a few of the signs that indicate it is time for you to look around for a new job.

But don’t act hastily. Making the decision to look for another job has risks. It can be disruptive to your career, reputation and personal life. You may also lose relationships and blemish your resume if you happen to make the wrong career move.

But the alternative – staying in your present job just because you’re afraid of the uncertainty of a change – can be worse. You can quickly become stagnant and lower your chances of finding a job later on.

How do you know when the time is right to start looking for a new job?

Here are 20 signs you should watch for. How many are you experiencing? Let me know.

1. You don’t like the people you work with.

2. You’re not being invited to participate in meetings.

3. Your boss rarely says hello or good morning to you.

4. Your values clash with your employer’s values.

5. The stress of work is affecting your health.

6. Your workload is affecting your family and personal life.

7. You are being undervalued and disrespected in the workplace.

8. Your compensation is less than others in similar positions.

9. You have frequent disagreements with your boss and peers.

10. There is no recognition or thanks for your work.

11. Your ideas are being ignored.

12. Your colleagues don’t associate or consult with you.

13. You are being given work that is beneath your abilities.

14. You spend so much of your day thinking about a new job that your performance is suffering.

15. Your skills and experience are not being used fully.

16. You’ve been assigned additional duties but your pay has remained the same.

17. You are experiencing (or witnessing) any form of harassment, bullying or abuse.

18. There’s no obvious role for you to grow into.

19. Your boss changes and the new boss does not appreciate your contribution.

20. You haven’t laughed at work in a very long time.

Some people start looking for another job prematurely, such as when they’ve had a bad day or a clash with their boss. Be careful of these situations and don’t act impulsively. Sit back and ask yourself: is this is a one-time occurrence or is this real evidence of a genuine mismatch that is unlikely to change in the future? That answer should help guide your decision.

Gerald Walsh is an executive recruiter, career coach, public speaker and author. During a 25+ year career, he has interviewed more than 15,000 job candidates, completed hundreds of successful searches for a range of organizations and guided many individuals – from young professionals to senior executives – to successful career change. He is the author of “PINNACLE: How to Land the Right Job and Find Fulfillment in Your Career.” You can follow Gerry on Twitter @Gerald_Walsh and LinkedIn.